The son of Ann H. (Doty) and Leon J. Cassidy Sr., he was a native of Sussex County. Born in Newton, he grew up on the family farm outside of Branchville. He attended Frankford Township’s one room schools until the new township Consolidated School opened. He was a member of the first eighth grade graduating class in 1951. He went on to graduate from Sussex High School in 1955 where he was a member of the Future Farmers of America.
In his early career he worked for Sussex Sales and Service, the Ford dealership, as a mechanic. He was then employed at Picatinny Arsenal for 12 years where he was involved in the testing of small arms during the Vietnam War. Hop went on to open Branchville Auto Sales on the family farm; an automotive repair shop that was a big part of his life for over 60 years. He took great satisfaction in helping his neighbors and friends with their repair needs. In addition to general auto repairs, he did auto body work and front end alignments, as well as truck and farm equipment repairs. The garage was often the site of many informal chats and visits.
In addition to raising a family and operating his own business, he devoted several years to the Beemerville Fire Department serving as chief in 1967 and 1968. In keeping with his dedication to serving the community, Hop joined the Freemasons of New Jersey in 1962 becoming a member of Samaritan Lodge #98. At the time he joined the fraternity, Samaritan Lodge met upstairs in the bank building in Sussex. The Lodge subsequently built a new home on Route 94 in North Church. In later years, he served Samaritan as Worship Master six times between 2001 and 2008. Upon an appeal for help from friends who were members of Kittatinny Lodge #164 Hop became a dual member of Kittatinny where he filled the chair of Worshipful Master for two years.
During his tenure in the Masons he stepped up many times to take a role in various special projects. He helped rebuild Samaritan Lodge after a fire, and was instrumental in starting Samaritan’s monthly breakfast as a fundraiser. He was part of the team that built the pavilion behind Kittatinny Lodge. It was in his nature to step up when he saw a need. He took on the job of learning and leading the Masonic funeral service. He was nominated by Kittatinny Lodge to serve on the New Jersey Masonic Grand Staff in 1999 as Grand Chaplain. As part of the Grand Staff, he attended the 200th anniversary recognition of George Washington’s passing at the George Washington Memorial in Fairfax, VA.
He headed up a number of programs for the First Masonic District including the Speirs Scholarship, the statewide child ID program, CHIPS; Educator of the Year which culminated in a Sussex-Wantage teacher being named the North Jersey award recipient in 2010, and the coordinator of the local Lodges’ participation in the annual SCARC walkathon. While Master of the two Lodges Hop served, he was successful in securing the designation of White Apron brother for three of his fellow Lodge brothers, an award presented by the District Deputy Grand Master to a brother who has demonstrated exceptional service by the brother to his Lodge and Freemasonry. Hop reached the height of his Masonic career in October, 2022 when he was presented with his 60 year pin.
He was predeceased by his parents in 1998 and his brother Frederick Michael Cassidy in 1960. He is survived by his wife, Karen Bevans-Cassidy; daughters Linda (William) Salvadore, Cheryl (Gary) Sargent, Donna (John) Kneidl; grandchildren Matthew (Ashley) Sargent, Stephanie (Scott) Phillips, Tyler (Ranjani) Kneidl, Steven (Danielle) Kneidl; and 9 great grandchildren.
Visitation will take place at Wood Funeral Home in Branchville on Friday, July 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. The Masonic funeral service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Beemerville (Wantage) Fire Department service at 8 p.m. The funeral will take place on Saturday, July 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home with burial in the Branchville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be forwarded to Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, Beemerville (Wantage) Fire Department or Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice.
